Well I’ve been doing really well since my last post for this category.
Firstly, I have to say this is just my own experience I’m sharing and if you want further information, it’s always a good idea to consult a medical doctor.
I’ve lost 40 pounds since the beginning of the year, and 32 of that is since I started on Mounjaro on May 5th. I just started measuring myself, so updates about that will be down the road. I just bought a pair of jeans that are two sizes down from where I was and that’s during a month where I’d just plateaued!
I’m very seldom ever hungry so that makes it much easier to avoid eating things I shouldn’t.
It really has slowed down the food noise and the only real thoughts about food that are going through my mind are trying to get in all my water, protein, and fiber, and trying to plan ahead for success with meal planning.
Right now I’m taking 7.4 mg of Mounjaro which is the first therapeutic dose. I’ll be raising it to 10 mg this weekend on my injection day because my doctor just increased it. I’ve heard many other users say they lost the most of their weight on 10 mg. so I’m hopeful 🙂 It’s a middle-of-the-line of the therapeutic doses, so I’m hoping to avoid the 12 and 15 mg doses. If you go up too quickly, you won’t have anywhere to be raised to.
Mounjaro is a GLP1 drug used for diabetes for type 2 diabetics and now also weight loss. Ozempic is a GLP1 drug as well, but Mounjaro is a little different. It has a few extra hormones. GLP-1 is already present in your body as your stomach produces it. It’s a peptide.
GLP-1
Glucagon-like
peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone produced in the small intestine and colon in response to food intake. It has many functions in the gastrointestinal tract, including:
-
- Regulating appetite: GLP-1 acts on the hypothalamus to increase satiety and slows down gut motility.
- Inhibiting gastric emptying: GLP-1 delays the emptying of the stomach.
- Inhibiting gastric acid secretion: GLP-1 may also inhibit the secretion of gastric acid.
GLP-1 receptors are also found in the stomach, and GLP-1R-immunoreactive cells can be detected in the stomach body and antrum pyloric glands.
Having said that, Ozempic,
Wegovy,
Zepbound and the like are all GLP-1
agonists too. Mounjaro is
Tirzepatide. Ozempic is
Semaglutide. Different medications, same family. Wegovy is Semaglutide, like Ozempic. Zepbound is Tirzepatide, like Mounjaro. There’s tons of information on the internet, so I’ll spare you the reading here 🙂 Google is your friend (sometimes 🙂 )
MOUNJARO / OZEMPIC FEAR
Yes, I’ve heard the warnings. But your girl is a research buff. I do a WHOLE lot of research before I jump into pretty much anything. Those fears have all been debunked. Many of them have been spread by big pharma competitors. Check it out:
SIDE EFFECTS
Yep, there are those. But they are manageable. Usually if the side effects are out of control, the patient will have their doses lowered till it settles down. Usually those complaining the loudest are the ones who are abusing the drug. They aren’t doing what their doctors tell them (assuming the doctor is a good one).
The main side effects are gastrointestinal. Some people are affected more than others. Mine could be worse. It’s definitely there (constipation…sorry if TMI lol), but not SO bad
Magnesium Citrate is a big help. That’s the brand I use and it’s a capsule instead of nasty-tasting liquid. Also, you learn to take your shot on a day you don’t have to be away from home much the next day, just in case. (It’s injectable once a week)
DOING MY PART
It’s not a matter of taking a shot once a week and that’s it. Those who have the best outcomes are those who do their part too. They eat enough protein, fiber, and drink enough water. They get regular exercise, especially resistance training/weights.
PROTEIN:
It’s important for anyone on a weight-loss program to get a good amount of protein in each day. How much is a “good amount” differs from person to person though barring other health concerns, many GLP-1 users aim for 100 grams or more. In my case, however, my doctor gave me a goal of 60-80 due to a previous kidney scare I’ve had in the past.
I bought protein powder (getting the kind with stevia and/or monk fruit as my body hates the artificial stuff). That kind isn’t as easy as it sounds because the majority are sweetened with sucralose (Splenda) and I definitely avoid that. But thanks to the internet, you can find it after you search a bit.
I’ve been purchasing “real” foods that are normally high in protein as well. I really try to only rely on the shakes to supplement where the foods don’t reach the goal with for each given day.
Why watch/raise your protein level? Lots of reasons, but the ones that stood out to me the most are:
* Lose fat and not muscle
* Avoid hair loss during the weight loss (hair is nearly all protein)!
FIBER:
It helps with the gastrointestinal problems that usually accompany GLP-1 medications.
WATER:
It helps protect your kidneys during the weight loss process. It also helps move things along digestively speaking. Water is also important in the muscle-building process. The way muscles build are that when they are exerted, they develop little tears and water fills them in till new muscle tissue develops in the tears. That’s yet another reason water weight happens for us girls.
CALORIES and FOOD NOISE:
For me, it’s difficult at times to make myself eat. There is like 90% no hunger now. That’s due in part to the slowing down of your digestive tract making you feel full a lot longer (thus the digestive issues).
ELECTROLYTES:
It’s a good idea to increase electrolytes as well. I put flavored electrolyte powder (linked below) to help my water taste better which makes me want to drink more water too.
Here’s what AI brought up in a google search about it:
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that plays a role in sodium and water homeostasis in humans. It increases sodium excretion by the kidneys and may reduce sodium absorption by the gastrointestinal tract to control extracellular volume expansion. Staying hydrated can help with some of the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects that people experience while taking GLP-1 medications, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. To stay hydrated, you can try sprinkling salt (real mineral salt like Redmond’s Real Salt) or adding an electrolyte powder to your water. Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride help deliver water to your cells.
EXERCISE:
Any calorie burning is a good idea when you are trying to lose weight, so working up a cardio sweat is beneficial. But what is really promoted with those of us taking the GLP-` drugs is STRENGTH TRAINING. Strength training can help maintain or regain muscle mass, boost metabolism, and improve bone density, among other reasons.
I plan to get back to freezer cooking and have meals ready to go in the freezer and just pull them out the the night before. That really helps! That’s the topic for a future post 🙂
